Eat My Charlotte

The fast food burger company Hardee’s paid a visit to the offices of Creative Loafing a few minutes ago — the visit was part of a marketing blitz for the joint’s new French Dip Thickburger.

Hardee’s sent over a bunch of burgers … and four ladies dressed as french maids to introduce us to their new line of burgers. Now, I personally don’t eat at fast food spots too much anymore (trying to get sexi-fied) — except for those nights when I need some grease to cut through the alcohol in my belly — but I don’t turn down free food. I also don’t turn away women dressed as French maids, youknowwhatI’msayin’?

Take a look for yourself:

Nice, right? (Shut it you haters!)

Oh and here’s a little video we shot of one of the French maids:

Cute, eh? (Oh whatever!) Lastly, here’s a shot of the burgers — before the CL staff ravaged them, that is:

How do they taste? Well, it was free, so that skews judgment a little. But, they were pretty tasty.

All in all, however, I think I liked the French maids more.

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Bombay Sapphire announced Stefan Huebner of Cosmos Café, 300 North College Street, is the winner of their “Most Inspired Charlotte Bartender Contest.” Huebner will compete in Las Vegas at the end of August against 39 other finalists to become the 2009 Most Inspired Bartender which includes a multi-page profile in GQ Magazine. Huebner’s winning recipe is The Queen Charlotte:

1 ¾ Bombay Sapphire
¾ Campari
¼ Prosecco
1 drop of Fee Brothers peach bitters
Splash of simple syrup
Squeezed orange juice
Candied orange twist

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Buff Faye presents The One & Only Queen City Sunday Drag Brunch

$12 Buffet Per Person includes:
Sunny Scrambled Eggs
Buff’s Homemade Biscuits & Gravy
Hot Sausage Links & Bacon
Mama’s Crispy Hashbrowns & More
Coffee, Soft Drink or Ice Tea

“I NEED A DRINK” SPECIALS
Mimosa & Bloody Mary Bar

Noon to 3 p.m.
Sunday, August 16

Hartigan’s Pub
601 S Cedar St

Large parties and reservations welcome, please call (704) 347-1841.
More info go online to www.hartigans.com or www.bufffaye.com

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Happy National Cheesecake Day!

Yup, that’s right … July 30 marks a very special holiday. Enjoy a slice of cheesecake to celebrate.

In honor of NCD, The Cheesecake Factory is offering all their cheesecakes at half price today.

Today they will also introduce their newest flavor: Stefanie’s Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake™.

You have 30 flavors of cheesecake to choose from. The restaurant in SouthPark closes at 11 pm tonight. Go!

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• A Stone Brewing Co. beer dinner is scheduled at Pie Town, 710 West Trade St., on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m. 704-379-7555. $30 per person (tax and gratuity not included).

• Belgian-native and Chef Jean-Pierre Marechal and Chef Jason Gray of Savannah Red Restaurant in the Charlotte Marriott City Center will be cooking at the James Beard House in Manhattan on Aug. 19. On the menu are: brandy-scented lobster cobbler with chive basil phyllo cups; Okra Duo: corn and okra salsa with pancetta crisps and shrimp-stuffed and cornmeal-fried okra spears; chive cornbread with kudzu jelly; lump crab hoecake; Bibb lettuce salad with heirloom tomatoes and a Split Creek Farm (Anderson, S.C.) goat cheese and port dressing; caramel braised Kurobuta pork belly with Anson Mills grit fries and flash-roasted North Carolina vegetables; and peach Krispy Kreme bread pudding with macerated local peaches and cognac Chantilly cream.

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• Zink American Kitchen, 201 North Tryon St., is offering 20 percent off the food portion of the tab when shown a ticket to Mamma Mia. 704-444-9001.

• Mez, 210 East Trade St., is featuring a “Feast of Julia Child” menu in honor of the film Julie & Julia from Aug. 6 through 9. The movie will be shown in the neighboring Epicentre Theater and selected items from this menu can be ordered à la carte during the show. The full prix fixe meal ($39 exclusive of tax, gratuity and beverage), is offered in Mez’s dining room and includes salmon mousse, French onion soup; duck a l’orange; classic bouillabaisse; and steak a u poivre. Desserts are crème brûlée, orange Bavarian, and banana Nutella crêpe. 704-971-2400.

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If you are unemployed and have a letter of verification, stop by one of the two participating Charlotte Domino’s locations today to receive a $15 gift card to Domino’s. And if you are the first through the doors, you can also win a ticket to see American Idol Live!

Domino’s wants to “revitalize those struggling with unemployment.”

“We want to give those a chance to go out and enjoy a night of entertainment. Our goal is to heighten the spirits of many in Charlotte, so we’re going to, one gift card at a time,” said Mack Patterson, local Domino’s owner.

Here are the details:

WHERE: Stop by one of the two participating Charlotte Domino’s locations:

16625 Lancaster Highway, Suite 103 Charlotte (Opens at 10:30 a.m.)
(At the corner of Lancaster Highway and Ardrey Kell)

3233 The Plaza Charlotte (Opens at 10:30 a.m.)

WHEN: July 29 – August 5, begins when doors open on Wednesday, July 29

Offer valid while supplies last, must present verification of unemployment. Limited to one per person, per verification of unemployment. Carry-out only, no substitutions. This offer cannot be combined with any other offer.

Hurry, doors open in 8 minutes!! Each location is only giving out 135 gift certificates and only two concert tickets at each location.

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Red Robin restaurants are offering a free order of their Towering Onion Rings with the purchase of two gourmet burgers.

Or if you’re not a fan of onion rings, you can choose to get another appetizer of your choice for free instead.

Just click the coupon below to print it out and bring it in before August 23 to get your free food.

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If so, Hardee’s has a present for you!

Four hottie French maids will be riding around on Segways outside of Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on Saturday, Aug. 1, passing out coupons, and introducing fans to the new Hardee’s French Dip Thickburger.

So before checking out Rascal Flatts, take a minute to say “bonjour” to Sophie, Antoinette, Gabrielle and Isabelle!

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Enjoy exceptional food and cigars for a cause.

Zebra will be hosting another cigar dinner event on Thursday, August 20, which will raise money for the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation. (Their last cigar dinner was held in June.)

The foundation has created a 23-acre project serving the 29 impoverished, rural communities in the Dominican Republic’s renowned tobacco-growing region. Included are primary and high schools
serving 490 students, medical center, community center, sports and recreation facilities, and organic farm and fishery. 100% of all donations directly help those in need.

The dinner costs $125 per guest, and $50 will go directly to the foundation. Call 704-442-9525 to make reservations.

Here is what you have to look forward to:

6:00

Hors d’Oeuvres and Cigar

Complementary Glass of Wine

Or Cocktail

6:45 Dinner Begins

Choice of Appetizer

Torchon Au Foie Gras

Anti Pasto Vegetables and Proscuitto

Spanish Shrimp Cocktail

Veal Sweetbreads En Croute, Sauce Ivoire

Traditional Caesar Salad ( almost )

Jumbo Lump Crab Cake

Zebra Angel Hair Basket

Beef Tenderloin Diablo, Scallops and Shrimp in Angel Hair Basket

With Haricot Verts and Baby Carrots, Tarragon Vin Blanc

And Glace de Viande

Or

Short Smoked Potato Fried Salmon, Swiss Chard

And Chevre Bundle, Pommery Beurre Blanc

Or

24 Ounce Cowboy Ribeye, Sheep’s Milk Roquefort

and Proscuitto Roasted Jumbo Asparagus

Zebra Sampler Dessert Platter

Crème Brulee, Chocolate Pecan Tart, Lemon Curd Tart,

Coconut Dacquoise Torte and Father’s Day Garnishments

Sumatra Coffee Service

Brandy, Cognac, Dessert Wines and Ports Available

Half Price Wines All Night!

125.00 per guest ( 50.00 donation goes to Fuente Foundation )

Fuente Opus X and Diamond Crown Gift Set Included ( 100.00 value )

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